Some Interesting Statistics

Now that everyone is planning their dates for visiting, and it's technically only two days away from little Eva's due date, we are getting anxious! So of course it is at this time that I am confronted by these statistics:

Did you know?

• Only 5% of babies are actually born on their due date
• 80% of babies are born within 10 days of their due date (either before or after)
• 70% of babies are born after their due date
• Only 8-10% of women give birth earlier than 10 days before the due date
• About 8% give birth beyond 10 days after their due date! Whew!

Unfortunately, it is in fact extremely common for first time moms to go several days past their due date. We are really hoping little Eva gets here on time. We are ready and the room is ready and we are waiting! I really hope she comes on time so Aimee and I can spend two weeks (while I'm off work) mostly uninterrupted with her before our families come to visit.

Here are some other interesting birth-related statistics:

• 80% of women receive an epidural (at our hospital at least)
• 80% of women in Denmark have their babies at home, they don't go to the hospital!
• Almost 1 in 3 women (about 30%, as of 2005) in America end up having a C-section
• The number of C-sections have increased 46% from 1996 - 2005!
• 10.3 hours is the average length of labor

We'd appreciate your prayers for an all-natural, on-time baby!